Vernon Philander Biography

While Dale Steyn is easily the finest fast bowler the world has produced, he has certainly not been short of partners. He had Morne Morkel, whose place was usurped by a gum-chewing, unperturbed youngster lost in the wilderness after a handful of ODIs in 2013.

Graeme Smith liked what he had seen, and gave Vernon Philander the new ball ahead of Morne on the former’s Test debut. Philander returned figures of three for 63, but the real performance came in the second innings: he finished with five for 15 as Australia were bowled out for 47 (at one stage they were 21 for nine with Philander on five for nine).’

He has never looked back since as wickets have kept tumbling in front of him. He had four five-wicket hauls in his first three Tests, and two more in his next four, and reached the 50-wicket mark in only seven Tests — the second-fastest in history.

His exceptional average and strike rate are mostly a product of his ability to attack the stumps, move the ball either way, and persist for long spells that can last for a session or more. He has never been express, but it has not mattered.

No mug with the bat, Philander’s presence in the lower-middle order provides South Africa with the solidity they need. He can be both gutsy and aggressive, and is, contrary to what it meets the eye, quite a stubborn obstacle to go past easily.

If Philander manages to continue with his form, he may join Steyn as one of the all-time South African greats.

Abhishek Mukherjee

Vernon Philander Batting & Fielding Averages

Career

M

In

R

NO

HS

Avg

BF

SR

100s

50s

4s

6s

Ct

St

Test

31

37

721

10

74

26.70

1627

44.31

0

4

75

5

8

0

ODIs

28

17

121

5

23

10.08

164

73.78

0

0

13

0

6

0

T20s

7

4

14

0

6

3.500

28

50.00

0

0

0

0

1

0

World Cup

4

2

10

1

10*

10.00

8

125.0

0

0

1

0

1

0

Vernon Philander Bowling Averages

Career

M

B

R

W

Avg

EC

SR

5WI

10WM

BBI

BBM

Test

31

5903

2722

123

22.13

2.766

47.

9

2

6/44

10/102

ODIs

28

1183

914

39

23.43

4.635

30.33

0

0

4/12

4/12

T20s

7

83

114

4

28.50

8.241

20.75

0

0

2/11

2/15

World Cup

4

171

135

4

33.75

4.736

42.75

0

--

4/12

Vernon Philander Career statistics

Test Debut

South Africa v Australia at
Newlands, Cape Town, November 9, 2011

Last Test

Bangladesh v South Africa at
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, July 30, 2015